Russell Wilson is riding in the Big Apple.
Late Tuesday afternoon, the words that a veteran quarterback had his pen on paper broke. A one-year contract with the New York Giants worth up to $21 million, $10.5 million is fully guaranteed. Wilson comes out from one season Pittsburgh Steelersjoins the quarterback room with Tommy DeVito and recently acquired Jamaice Winston.
What does this move mean for the Giants' decision in No. 3 in the first round?
It may mean nothing, and it may mean everything.
Let's take their options
Stay 3 and take advantage of the best players available
By adding Wilson and Winston to the roster, Joe Shane gave the quarterback room some flexibility.
If the Giants aren't like the quarterback in this draft, or if your favorite options are not available when you're on the watch, you can at least pivot into different positions and areas of other needs.
Or perhaps the proverb “the best player available.”
Reading Tea Leaves – as our own James Datar did recently – it is Tennessee Titan The first choice in the 2025 NFL Draft will be zero in quarterback comeward. Assuming he is actually No. 1 off the board, Cleveland Browns He's on the watch he needs at a quarterback, but he has two incredible talents: Travis Hunter Jr. and Abdul Carter.
The Browns can only choose one, not all three.
Perhaps Cleveland is dealing with their own quarterback calamity with Shedur Sanders, perhaps not. The Browns have already added Kenny Pickett to the quarterback room, and rumors are swirling that they will not be able to add veterans. Kirk Cousins linked to Cleveland. The Browns decided to go on the veteran route, handed over Sanders and were able to choose either Hunter or Carter.
Others will be able to use Shane at number 3.
Adding either player will provide further upgrades to defenses where the already free agency has seen some additions. Given the Giants' wide receiver room, picking the Hunter will see New York using him primarily as cornerback, where he joined Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland, who were added by two players during free agency. Brian Daball would also like to have a package of plays for the Hunter on the offensive side of the ball, along with Malik Narvers, Darius Slayton and One Dale Robinson.
Or, if it's Hunter who comes out of the board to Cleveland in No. 2, New York could add Carter to the defensive line already featuring Brian Burns and Cavontibodeau. The Giants faced a decision on Tibode's fifth year option, and while posting career-best sacks in 2023, his production soaked up pre-season. Still, the three talented pass rush before isn't a bad thing. Adding Carter gives the Giants flexibility if they decide to move on from Thibodeaux after 2025.
Trade from No. 3
Again, with the practical assumption that Titan is drafting the ward on the first pick, that means that one of the Hunter/Carter/Sanders trio will be available at No. 3.
Will the team be happy to trade up? Should Shane entertain ideas?
The first question may be a little difficult to answer, but you can imagine a scenario in which a team wants to jump to third place for the Hunter, or a scenario in which the team leaves when the music stops in the “veteran QB Musical Chair” game.
But as for the second question, Shane should at least entertain the idea. This is a team that can improve in a few positions, finishing 3-14 before the season. The Giants have eight draft picks in this class and have several additions to free agency, but the more talent they acquire, the better.
If the scenario presents itself and the team is willing to pay a premium to get to No. 3, Shane should at least entertain the idea.
Stay at 3 and get a QB
This is the “additional Wilson and Winston will never change” option.
With the addition of two veterans, the quarterback position, Time and potential bridge crossed the bridge to the next potential face of the franchise. However, the Giants have not committed to QB since 2025 as both Wilson and Winston signed a one-year deal.
Certainly, it's reasonable to see this news and assume that the Giants aren't looking for QB in the 3 (or expecting both Ward and Sanders to be off the board by then), but again, the addition of these veterans gives us flexibility. They can sit and take the best players available. Or you could add a quarterback on No. 3 to make life a little easier.
Certainly, if the Giants draft Sanders on No. 3, there's pressure to play him earlier, for example, the first three in the first week and the outs, but having two veterans would allow the New York coaching staff to turn the key into a rookie quarterback. Also, while Sanders can learn the season under two veterans and there is no substitute for a hands-on experience, there are recent examples of QBs who benefit from the NFL redshirt season.
Some may say the move shows how the Giants feel about this quarterback class and show their willingness to punt the QB decision in 2026. But this is the proverb “Grass is always environmentally friendly” line. Yes, on paper, the 2026 QB class may be intrigued by players like Drew Arra, Nico Iamareava, Garrett Nasmeyer, Cade Krunik and Yes.
But there's a long way to go and there's still a lot of football being played. Certainly the Giants can wait for 2026, but if that group of prospects doesn't pan out, they will have QBs in the building and lose the opportunity to study for a year, and the cycle will begin a new beginning.
Of course, this idea assumes that quarterback-Sanders is available if you believe smoke around Tennessee is available. If the Browns surprise everyone and the draft starts QB-QB, they can go back to the first two options.
However, adding Wilson and Winston should not prevent the Giants from drafting the quarterback if QB is available.
Ultimately, this part of the analysis may depend on how confident Shane is about his own job safety.
If he wasn't there to reap the rewards, will he look to 2026 and draft players?
